BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team earned a first-round bye in the 2016 Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament after splitting a conference doubleheader with American International College (AIC) Saturday afternoon at Pace Field. The Setters move to 24-14 overall and 17-7 in the NE-10, while AIC goes to 17-21 and 10-14.
The Setters will finish no worse than second place in the Southwest Division with a final divisional record of 12-6. They are currently half a game behind Adelphi University, and half a game ahead of Le Moyne College. Le Moyne defeated Adelphi twice on Saturday, and the Dolphins and Panthers will play one more time on Sunday. Should Le Moyne complete the sweep against Adelphi, the Setters would win the three-way tiebreaker, and would host the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament. If Adelphi wins, the Panthers host this year's tournament.
The Setters celebrated Senior Day prior to Saturday's twinbill. They honored seniors
Victoria Quinones (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) and
Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) before taking the field for the final time during the regular season.
Game 1: American International 4, Pace 0
First baseman Alexa DiLeo did all of the damage for the Yellow Jackets in game one. She hit a two-run double in the top of the first to give AIC an early 2-0 advantage. After five scoreless innings, DiLeo knocked in two more runs on another double in the top of the seventh, doubling the lead to the eventual final score of 4-0.
DiLeo finished up going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and her two doubles. Designated player Kaley Kempf and right fielder Jenna Costa each when 2-for-4 with a run.
Junior second baseman
Haley Hernandez (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) accounted for the Setters' only hit in Saturday's opener, going 1-for-3.
AIC starter Jillian Bedard went the full seven innings, allowing just one hit to improve to 5-6. McCann fell to 8-5 after allowing four runs in seven innings.
Game 2: Pace 3, American International 2
Saturday's nightcap got off to a similar start as the opener, as DiLeo knocked in a run on a fielder's choice in the top of the first to give AIC an early 1-0 lead. However, the Setters fired back to take the lead in their first at bat of the game. Sophomore designated player
Surina Sandhu (Elk Grove, CA/Elk Grove High School) knocked in sophomore shortstop
Ashley Lew (New City, NY/Clarkstown High School North) with a single up the middle, and later scored on a double by junior catcher
Samantha Lima (Brawley, CA/Saddleback College), giving Pace a 2-1 advantage after one.
After another set of scoreless middle innings, Lima added to the Setters' lead by knocking in Quinones on a single through the left side in the top of the sixth. This proved to be a crucial run for the Setters, as the Yellow Jackets threatened in the top of the seventh. AIC put two runners on before the Setters' got back-to-back outs on fielder's choices. Pinch hitter Jamie Mainez singled with two down to knock in a run, leaving Pace up, 3-2. A walk then loaded the bases, but third baseman Jorrdin Miller hit a line drive right to sophomore center fielder
Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School) to end the game.
Sophomore starter
Jaclyn Flores (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual High School) picked up the win to improve to 7-4 on the season. She went the complete seven innings, giving up just two runs on three hits. Sarah Beliveau took the loss for AIC, falling to 4-5 after allowing three runs on seven hits.
Lima hit 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a double in the win. Sandhu knocked in a run and scored another in a 1-for-3 outing. Quinones batted 2-for-3, and Hernandez finished 1-for-3.
DiLeo went 1-for-3 with an RBI for AIC in game two. Miller scored a run in a 1-for-4 effort.
With their conference season wrapped up, the Setters will take a trip to Chestnut Hill College tomorrow, April 24, for anon-conference doubleheader. Sunday's first game is set to begin at 1 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University softball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
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